Equine Infectious Anemia

Equine Viral Arteritis

National Animal Health Reporting System Provides Data for Confirmed Diseases

Feedlot Monitoring Data Show VS What is Happening in Animal Health

Low Pathogenic Avian Influenza

West Nile Virus

Chronic Wasting Disease

Modernization of Ames

National Animal Identification System

Bovine Tuberculosis

BSE Surveillance

Foreign Animal Disease Investigations

Trichinea Certification Program

Pseudorabies

Assessing Brucellosis in the Tristate Area: Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho

Bluetongue Survey

Confiscation of Belgian Sheep in Vermont

Scrapie Eradication Program

Johnes Program

National Veterinary Services Laboratories Domestic Detection and Surveillance Testing

Equine Infectious Anemia

In FY 2002, VS revised the Uniform Methods and Rules (UM & R) describing the minimum standards for detecting, controlling, and preventing Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA), as well as the minimum EIA requirements for the intrastate and interstate movement of equines.

A laboratory guide was designed for bench use and was given to graduates from NVSL's EIA school.

EIA is an infectious and potentially fatal virus disease of members of the horse family. A classic blood borne infection, EIA is most commonly transmitted by horse or deer flies to horses in close proximity. Bites from the flies stimulate defensive movement by the horse, which often results in an interruption of the blood feeding. To complete the feeding, the fly then attacks the same or a second host, which can move the infective materials from one horse to another.

Infections caused by the EIA virus are widespread and occur periodically in untested reservoirs in the United States. In areas where frequent testing occurs, infections can be controlled. There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease, and it is often difficult to differentiate it from other fever-producing diseases, including anthrax, influenza, and equine encephalitis.

During FY 2002, VS continued working with the USAHA EIA Subcommittee of the Infectious Diseases of Horses Committee on a substantive report on EIA. The report proposed actions to be taken in FY 2003 on better defining State and Federal laboratory roles clarifying outcomes and expectations, and longer term, a radically different national EIA testing standard.